40 posts in the category “PatientsLikeMe News”

You’re more than your than your condition. You’re you – a father, a sister, a Nana, a spouse, a dog Mom, a sports fan, a professional singer, a veteran businessman, a traveler, a devoted friend, a furious yet hopeful fighter.

You play countless roles, and patient is just one of them.

There’s power in your #MoreThan stories – see for yourself. Eleven members of the PatientsLikeMe Team of Advisors have shared how they’re “#MoreThan” their conditions in a new ongoing video series. Watch this preview featuring just a few patients like you, and stay tuned for more stories coming soon.

You > your condition. And together, we are the answer. Join us in the fight to learn more, and keep sharing your stories.

Up for sharing your #MoreThan story on social media? Follow these 3 steps. Remember to use the tags #MoreThan and @PatientsLikeMe.

Repeal? Replace? Revise? While politicians have spent months debating the details of a U.S. health care plan, a recent poll of 2,755 PatientsLikeMe members has found that patients are largely aligned about components of a strong plan for the country.

“Despite the partisan divide in Congress about what should be included in a health care plan there is a singular voice in patients, who are agreed across party lines on the essential foundation for any plan.”

Patients with a variety of conditions and from all 50 states (plus the District of Columbia) participated in the poll May 4-9. The poll launched on the same day that the U.S. House of Representatives voted (217 to 213) to narrowly pass the American Health Care Act (AHCA, sometimes nicknamed “Trumpcare” or “Ryancare”), which would repeal much of the Affordable Care Act (ACA, or “Obamacare”). The AHCA bill is now with the Senate for deliberation, revisions and possibly a vote in the coming days.

Here are some highlights from the poll’s findings and the latest trends in patients’ opinions.

The new (May) poll was a follow-up to a January 2017 poll where PatientsLikeMe members weighed in on the ACA/Obamacare. Comparing the responses of those who took both the January and May polls, patients are increasingly in favor of modifying rather than replacing the ACA/Obamacare. Fewer patients believe the ACA “needs a major overhaul” or should be “totally eliminated.”

The 7 must-haves

Patients are united — 95% or more of respondents agree that these elements should be included in a national health care plan to “provide essential help to the most people.”

Should states have a choice?

Nearly half (48%) disagree that states should be able to “opt out” of parts of a national health care plan while more than one-third (35%) agree with it. But only 22% agree that their own state should opt out.

The strongest opinions about opting out were split along party lines, with more Democrats than Republicans believing states should not be allowed to opt out.

Take action: How to raise the patient voice in 3 steps

Want to share the patient voice with your members of Congress? Click here to go to a “Take Action” page with 3 simple steps to spread the word about the poll results and add your own perspective.

“Our hope is that by amplifying the voice of those with the most experience with our health system, we will influence the Senate to construct the best plan for all Americans.”

About

At PatientsLikeMe, people with every type of condition are coming together to share their health experiences, find patients like them and learn how to take control of their health. The result is improved care for patients as well as an acceleration of real-world medical research.

Stay tuned to our blog for the latest happenings with our company, our patients and our mission of opening up the healthcare system.